Amsterdam, Dec. 18 (BNA): Health experts advising the Dutch government on COVID-19 strategy have recommended that the country go into a “strict” lockdown, Dutch media reported on Friday, just days after the partial lockdown was extended until January. .
RTL Nieuws and the newspaper NRC Handelsblad cited sources within the expert panel, whose recommendations were only made public after the government made a decision, that they had advised closing all but essential stores.
Health Minister Hugo de Jong told reporters outside a cabinet meeting earlier on Friday that he had “significant concerns” about the rapid spread of Omicron, which has emerged just as an earlier wave of infections in the Netherlands peaked.
“I won’t say what additional measures may be required,” de Jong said, adding that the government would follow the advice of health experts.
Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s government is due to meet health advisers on Saturday before making a decision on the new measures.
On Tuesday, the government ordered that the closure of bars, restaurants and most shops from 5 pm to 5 am, which was introduced in late November, will remain until January 14.
In addition, primary schools have been ordered to close early for the winter holidays, due to the high infection rates among children.
Rutte said then that Omicron could be the dominant coronavirus strain in the Netherlands by January.
The National Institute of Health (RIVM) on Friday reported 15,433 new cases of COVID-19, down about 25% from the previous week — but still higher than the peak of any previous wave.
The country’s strained healthcare system is delaying most routine care and canceling all but urgent operations in order to deal with COVID-19 patients.